1. Earth from geological viewpoint

2. Earth from meteorological viewpoint

3. Earth from ecological viewpoint Earth as huge system of interdependent, interacting, parts

4. The 4 components of Earth 1. Lithosphere: the solid Earth; land, soil

5. The 4 components of Earth 2. Hydrosphere: the liquid Earth; water

6. The 4components of Earth 3. Atmosphere: the gaseous Earth; air

7. The 4 components of Earth 4. Organisms: living things

8. Biosphere Includes parts of all 4 components of Earth in which living things occur.

9. Levels of organization in the living world

10. Organisms: individual living things

11. Levels of organization in the living world Population: group of individuals of same species occupying a given area at the same time.

12. Levels of organization in the living world Community: populations of all species occupying a particular place

13. Levels of organization in the living world Ecosystem: community(ies) interacting with one another and with the physical environment in a particular place

14. Levels of organization in the living world Biome: a major category of ecosystem (e.g., desert, grassland, tropical rainforest, etc.)

15. ECOLOGY Ecology: the scientific study of ecosystem structure and function Ecologists vs. Environmentalists

16. Structure of ecosystems 1. Energy source –Usually sunlight Deep sea vent

17. Structure of ecosystems 2. Physical environment: non-living materials like air, water, minerals, etc.

18. Structure of ecosystems 3. Producers –Make their own food

19. Structure of ecosystems 4. Consumers –Eat other living things –Primary –Secondary

20. Structure of ecosystems 5. Decomposers –Eat waste matter and dead living things

21. Function of ecosystems All ecosystem interactions depend on –1. One-way flow of energy –2. Matter cycling

22. Energy Flow Energy: the ability to do work Energy quality: measure of ability to do work

23. Energy Flow Energy: the ability to do work Energy quality: measure of ability to do work –High: organized, concentrated; great ability to do work. Ex. electricity

24. Energy Flow Energy: the ability to do work Energy quality: measure of ability to do work –High: organized, concentrated; great ability to do work. Ex. electricity –Low: disorganized or dilute; low ability to do useful work. Ex. heat less than 100°C

25. Laws of thermodynamics 1. Matter and energy can’t be created or destroyed, only transformed –You can’t get something for nothing –There’s no such thing as a free lunch –E = mc 2 2. Energy degrades to a less usable, lower quality form (low heat is lowest) –Energy quality “tax” –You can’t win –You can’t get out of the game, either

27. One-way flow of energy –Food chain: a series of organisms, each eating or decomposing the preceding one. A channel for one-way flow of energy (and the recycling of materials). Individual organisms

30. One-way flow of energy Food Web: a tracing of movement of all energy (and matter) passing through an ecosystem. Including all interconnected food chains

33. One-way flow of energy Some concepts –Pyramid of energy: due to the “energy quality tax” of the second law of thermodynamics, only 2-30% of the energy a one trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level Depends on species and ecosystems involved The “average” number is 10%

36. One-way flow of energy –Pyramid of numbers and biomass: related to the pyramid of energy. More people can be supported by plants than by animal meat

38. One-way flow of energy Pyramid of numbers and biomass: 1 300 90,000 27,000,000 1000 tons Human Trout Frogs Grasshoppers Grass

39. One-way flow of energy –Pyramid of numbers and biomass: 1 300 90,000 27,000,000 1000 tons Grass Human Trout Frogs Grasshoppers 30 90,000 27,000,000 1000 tons Grass Humans Frogs Grasshoppers

40. One-way flow of energy –Pyramid of numbers and biomass: 1 300 90,000 27,000,000 1000 tons Grass Human Trout Frogs Grasshoppers 900 27,000,000 1000 tons Grass Humans Grasshoppers

41. One-way flow of energy –Pyramid of numbers and biomass: 1 300 90,000 27,000,000 1000 tons Grass Human Trout Frogs Grasshoppers 2,000 1000 tons Grass Humans

42. One-way flow of energy –Net Primary Productivity: rate at which plants produce chemical energy (PSS) MINUS the rate at which plants use chemical energy (respiration) The “income” of animals

43. So, which biomes on Earth are the most productive?

45. Kcal/m 2 /yr